EU, US lead fight against online child sex abuse

By
Euronews

All 27 EU countries are joining up with the US and 20 other nations to fight against child sex abuse online.

The UN estimates the illegal sale of child porn on the internet is worth some 250 million dollars a year.

This new joint effort has clear goals, according to EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem.

“(This initiative aims to) significantly reduce the pictures on Internet, and films, significantly more children safed and identified, significantly more awareness campaigns being done with parents,” she told euronews, stressing that she hoped it would bring more people to justice.

The US government’s top lawyer, Attorney General Eric Holder, said cross-border cooperation was key to catching the perperators.

“No single nations will be able to address these challenges or overcame the obstacles ahead on its own,” he told reporters in Brussels.

Another aim is to set up special law enforcement units for online sex crimes in all countries, which will make it easier to launch police investigations across borders.

It is hoped that in turn will encourage better cooperation with Interpol, the world’s largest international police organisation, which is based in Lyon, France.